Resilient spring plank retainer



oct. 11, 1949.,

R. B. COTTRELL -RESILIENT SPRING PLANK RETAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1944 INVENTOR. feds? 59ML@ (QAM Oct. 11, 1949i. R. BCOTTRELL RSILIENT SPRING PLANK RETAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1944 www @WW w INVENTOR.

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R. B. COTTRELL 1111511115111 SPRING PLANK 111114114111111 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 y Filed Jan. 5, 1944 lli/a:

INVENTOR. Bej Q/ @AM Patented Oct. 11, 1949 RESILIENT SPRING PLANK'RETAINER Robert B. Cottrell, Chicago, Ill., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 5, 1944, `Serial No. 517,063

21 Claims.

My invention relates to railway car trucks and more particularly to a spring plankless type truck.

The general object of my invention is to design a novel means of tying or interconnecting the side frames of a railway car truck for maintaining `said frames in squared relationship.

A specific object of my invention is to provide a tie bar extending between the frames and seated upon horizontal flanges thereof. A spring is seated on said bar adjacent each end thereof and is compressed thereagainst by means of a spring cap member positioned in a slot through the top chord of the associated side frame tension member, said Spring cap member affording a seat for a portion of the bolster supporting spring group which is supported by Said top chord in the usual manner.

In one embodiment of my invention the spring cap member extends downwardly through aligned openings in the tie bar and the associated side frame flange, and in the other illustrated embodiment of my invention the spring cap member houses the associated spring which is in the form of a resilient block of material seated on the tie bar which comprises an opening therethrough for the reception of a complementary lug on the side frame flange.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is la fragmentary side elevation of a railway car truck embodying my invention, and Figure 2 is a sectional view taken in the plane indicated `by the line 2-2 of Figure 1, the bolster being illustratedin elevation- Figure 3 is a fragmentary top View of the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the bolster removed and the side frame shown in section throughthe columns thereof.

Figures 4 to 6 illustrate a modification of my invention, Figure 4 being a fragmentary side elevation corresponding to Figure 1, Figure 5 being a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 5-5of Figure 4, and Figure 6 being a fragmentary top view comparable to Figure 3.

Describing my invention in detail and referring first to the embodiment thereof as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the side frame comprises the compression member 2, the tension member 4 and a column 6 merging therewith adjacent each vend of the frame to define a window open ing 8 and a central bolster opening l0. The tension member 4, as best illustrated in Figure 2, is of box-section beneath the bolster opening with the bottom chord l2, the inboard and outboard `walls 'I4 and I6, and the top chord I8 widened end against the'tie bar 30.

and formed with upstanding inboard and outlboard flanges 2B and 22 dening a springseat `24 on the top chord I8, said seat being formed and arranged for the support of the bolster supporting springs 26, 26.

A substantially horizontal flange 28 is lformed on the inboard wall I4 of the tension member, said flange affording a seat for the tie bar'3l! which extends between the side frames and is connected to each thereof in a manner hereinafter described. Extending through aligned `openings in the tie bar 36 andthe flange 28 are a pair of pins 32, 32, each of said pins extending upwardly through an opening 34 (Figure 2) in the topchord I8 of the tension member and being provided with a head received within the complementary recess 36 in said top chord and seated thereagainstY as at 38.

A coil spring 48 is sleeved over each pin 32,

said spring being seated at its upper end against the head of the pin and being seated at its lower It will be understood from a comparison of Figures 2 and 3 that the top surface of the head of each pin affords a seat as at-42 (Figure 2) for the adjacent spring 26 of the bolster supporting spring group.

A bolster 44 of well known form extends into the bolster opening l0 and is seated at 46, 46 on the springs 26, 26, said bolster having the inboard and outboard guide lugs 48 and 58 on each side thereof cooperating in conventional manner with the inboard and outboard sides of the adjacent column 6 to afford an interlock between the side frame and the bolster. It will be understood vthat the bolster load transmitted through the inboard springs 26, 26 isoperable to urge the pin 32 downwardly whereby the head thereof engagesA the top chord of the tension member at 38.Y This places the springs 48, under cornpression between the-tie bar 39 and the heads of the pins 32,. 32. If-desired, a cotter or other retaining means mayfbe insertedthrough the opening 52 in each pin 32, thus maintaining the spring 4t under compression even though the column, as fully described in saidfco-pending application; however, the bolster and associated friction devices are not described in detail herein inasmuch as they are not pertinent to the present invention.

Referring now to the modification illustrated in Figures 4 to 6 inclusive, the side frame |02 is similar to that previously described with the tension member |04 thereof being of box-section beneath the bolster opening |06, said box-section comprising the top and bottom chords |08 and I I0, as well as the inboard and outboard walls I2 and II4, said top chord being widened and formed with the upstanding inboard and outboard ilanges I I6 and I I8 defining the inboard and outboard margins of the spring seat on the top chord |08. A plurality of bolster supporting springs |22, |22 are mounted on the seat |20 and are seated as at |24, |24 against the bottom wall of the bolster generally designated |26. Integrally formed with the inboard wall ||2 of the ltension member is the substantially horizontal inboard flange |28 affording a seat for the tie bar |30, said tie bar having a pair of openings |32, |32 for the reception of complementary lugs |34, |34 on the flange |28.

Seated on the tie bar is a spring in the form of a resilient pad |36, said spring being housed within a spring cap |38, the upper surface of which alfords a seat as at (Figure 5) for the adjacent bolster supporting springs |22,

|22. The cap |38 is positioned in a slot |42 formed in the top chord |08 of the tension member.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim: l

1. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames each comprising top and bottom members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening, said bottom member being of box-section beneath said bolster opening with the top chord of said box-section widened and formed with upstanding inboard and outboard flanges dening a spring seat on said top chord, a horizontal inboard flange projecting from said bottom member, said horizontal iiange comprising spaced lugs on the top thereof, and a slot through said top chord above said horizontal flange, a tie bar extending between said frames and seated at its opposite ends on the horizontal flanges of respective frames, said bar comprising openings .therethrough receiving the associated lugs, re-

silient means seated on said bar adjacent each end thereof, and a cap in the associated slot seated on said resilient means, a spring group in each bolster opening seated partly on the top chord of the associated bottom member and partly on the associated cap, and a bolster extending between said frames and having each end thereof supported on the associated group, each of said caps housing therewithin the associated resilient means.

2. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames each comprising top and bottom members and spaced columns dening therewith a bolster opening, said bottom member being of box-section beneath said bolster opening with the top chord of said box-section widened and formed with upstanding inboard and outboard anges defining a spring seat on said top chord, a horizontal inboard flange projecting from said bottom member, said horizontal flange comprising spaced lugs on the top thereof, and a slot through said top chord above said horizontal flange, a tie bar extending between said frames and seated at its opposite ends on the horizontal flanges of respective frames, said bar comprising openings therethrough receiving the associated lugs, resilient means seated on said bar adjacent each end thereof, and a cap in the associated slot seated on said resilient means, a spring group in each bolster opening seated partly on the top chord of the associated bottom member and partly on the associated cap, and a bolster extending between said frames and having each end thereof supported on the associated group.

3. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames each comprising a tension member, a compression member and spaced columns dening therewith a bolster opening, said tension member being of box-section beneath said bolster opening with the top chord of said box-section widened and formed with upstanding inboard and outboard flanges defining a spring seat on said top chord, and a horizontal flange on the inboard side of said tension member disposed beneath a slot through said top chord, a tie bar extending between said frames with its opposite ends seated on the horizontal flanges of respective frames, a spring group on each spring seat, a bolster extending between said frames and supported from the associated spring groups, means in each slot for urging the adjacent portion of said bar into engagement with the associated horizontal flange, said means including a member having a top surface affording a seat for a part of the associated group, and resilient means between said bar and said last-mentioned member.

4. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames each comprising top and bottom members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening, said bottom member being of box-section beneath said bolster opening with the top chord of said box-section widened to form a spring seat, an-inboard flange on said bottom member extending beneath a portion of said top chord, an opening in said portion, and a spring group on said seat, a bolster extending between said frames with its extremities supported by said groups, a tie bar extending between said frames and having its opposite extremities seated on the ilanges of respective frames, means for securing each end of said bar to the associated ange, said means comprising a member in the adjacent opening seated against a part of at least one spring of the associated group, and resilient means bearing against said last-mentioned member and an adjacent portion of said bar, said last-mentioned member extending through aligned openings in said flange and said bar.

5. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames each comprising top and bottom members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening, said bottom member being of box-section beneath said bolster opening with the top chord of said box-section widened to form a spring seat, an inboard flange on said bottom member extending beneath a portion of said top chord, a slot through said portion, and a spring group on said seat, a bolster extending between said frames with its extremities supported by said groups, a tie bar extending between said frames and having its opposite extremities seated on the anges of respective frames, means for securing each end of said bar to the associated flange, said means comprisingfa member in the adjacent slot affording a seat for a part of the Ya side frame having a spring seat, a ledge disposed beneath said seat and deiining a jaw therewith, `a tie bar supported onv said ledge, and means for maintaining `said tie bar in engagement with said ledge, said means including a springfcapmember having a horizontal upper portion disposedwithin an openingin said seat and provided with an upper surface coplanar with that of said spring seat, and a lower portion extending into said jaw, and a resilient member bearing against said upper portion and said tie bar, said lower portion affording positioning means for said resilient member.

'7. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames each comprising top and bottom members and spaced columns deiining therewith a bolster opening, said bottom member being of box-section beneath said bolster opening with the top chord of said box-section widened to form a spring seat, an inboard flange on said bottom member extending beneath a portion of said top chord, a slot through said portion, and a spring group on said seat, a bolster extending between said frames with its extremities supported by said groups, a tie bar extending between said frames and having itsopposite extremities seated on the anges of respective frames, means for maintaining each end of said bar in engagement with the associated ilange, said means comprising a member in the adjacent slot affording a seat for a .part of the associated group, and resilient means bearing against `said last-mentioned member and an adjacent portion of said bar.

8. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames each comprising top and Vbottom lmembers and spaced columns dening therewith a bolster opening, said bottom member being of box-section with the top chord thereof widened to form a spring seat, a flange on said bottom member beneath the widened portion of said top chord, a tie bar extending between said frames and seated at its opposite ends upon the flanges of respective frames, resilient means seated on said tie bar adjacent each end thereof, a spring abutment member seated on said resilient means and extending upwardly through a slot in the associated top chord, means interlocking the tie bar with each of said anges, resilient means on each side frame seated .partially on .the top chord. thereof and partially on the associated abutment member, and a bolster extending between said side frames and seated upon the last-mentioned resilient means.

9, In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising a spring seat, a bolster-supporting spring group on said seat, a web on the inboard side of said frame beneath said seat, a side frame connecting member having one of its ends seated on said web, and means for securing said member to said frame comprising a rigid part bearing against certain of the springs of said group for urging thereby toward said member, and resilient means compressed between said part and member for holding the latter tightly against said web.

10. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames including spring seats, a pocket on the inboard side of each frame beneath said seats and open thereto,V a 'bolster-supporting.' spring group on each seat, a tie bar extending between said frames and having its opposite extremities received in the pockets `in respective frames, means for securing each end offthe bar to the associated frame, said means comprising rigid lmembers extending through saidiseats into said pockets and having lower portions extending into said pockets and having upper portions with surfaces coplanar with the surfaces of the respective spring seats, and resilient meansr compressed between the upper portion of each Ymember and associated end of said bar for urging the same tightly against the bottom portions of the respective pockets, each of said lower portions affording positioning means for the associated resilient means.

ii. In a railway car truck, a side'frame comprising top and bottom members and spaced columns dening therewith a bolster opening, said bottom. member being of box-section beneath said bolster' opening with the top chord of boxsection affording a spring seat, s' ,gs on said seat seat, a bolster supported said springs, a tie bar seated on a portion bottom member, resilient means bearing *ist bar to maintain it in proper posion portion, and a lmember seated on res lmeans and seated against at least ci springs, said last-mentioned member extending upwardly through an opening in top chord and downwardly through aligned openings. said bar and said portion.

i2. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames comprising .top and bottom members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening, a spring group on said bottom member in said opening, a bolster extending between said frames and supported from the spring groups associated therewith, a tie bar extending between said frames beneath said bolster, and means securing said bar to each frame, said means including a jaw on each frame receiving the associated end ci" said bar, resilient means seated on said bar, and a member seated on said resilient and having a top surface seated against at least one spring of the associated group, said last-mentioned member affording a housing for its associated resilient means.

i3. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising top and bottom members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening, said bottom member being of box-section beneath said bolster opening with the top chord of said box-section affording a spring seat, resilient means on said seat, a bolster supported from said resilient means, a tie bar seated on a portion of said bottom member, resilient means bearing against said bar to maintain it in proper position on said portion, and a member seated on said last-mentioned resilient means and seated against said rst-mentioned resilient means, said lastmentioned member extending upwardly through an opening in said top chord and downwardly through aligned openings in said tie bar and said portion.

11i. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames each comprising top and bottom members and spaced columns dening therewith a bolster opening, a spring group on said bottom member in said opening, a bolster extending between said frames and supported from the spring groups associated therewith, a tie bar extending between said frames beneath said bolster, and means securing said bar to each frame, said means including a jaw on each frame receiving the associated end of said bar, resilient means seated on said bar, and a member seated on said resilient means and having a top surface bearing against certain of the springs of the associated group, said last-mentioned member extending through aligned openings in said jaw and said bar.

l5. In a railway car truck, spaced side frames each comprising a longitudinally extending member formed with a spring seat portion intermediate the ends thereof, a flange on the inboard side of each member below the spring seat portion thereof, a tie bar extending between said frames with the opposite ends seated on the iianges of respective frames, a bolster-supporting spring group on each portion, and means for securing said tie bar to said frames comprising rigid parts bearing against said spring groups for urging thereby toward said tie bar, and resilient means compressed between each rigid part and said tie bar for urging the latter tightly against said flanges.

16. In a railway car truck, the combination of a side frame having a spring seat, said side frame having a :laterally projecting extension beneath said seat and defining a jaw therewith, a tie bar supported on said extension, and means for maintaining said bar in engagement with lsaid extension, said means including a rigid member having an upper portion disposed in an opening in said spring seat and provided with a top surface coplanar with the top surface of said spring seat, a portion depending from said upper portion, and resilient means having the opposite ends thereof disposed in vertical alignment bearing against said upper portion and said tie bar respectively, said depending portion affording positioning means for said resilient means.

17. In a railway car truck, the combination of a side frame having a spring seat, said side frame having a laterally projecting extension beneath said seat and defining a jaw therewith, a tie bar supported on said extension, and means for maintaining said bar in engagement with said extension, said means including a rigid member having an upper portion with a horizontal spring seat disposed within an opening in the spring seat of said side frame, said spring seats having coplanar top surfaces, an element integral with said upper portion and depending therefrom, and a resilient element bearing at opposite ends thereof against said upper portion and said tie bar, one of said elements surrounding the other of said elements to position said resilient element against said tie bar and the upper portion of said member.

18. In a railway car truck, a combination of a side frame having a spring seat, said side frame having a laterally projecting extension beneath said seat, a tie bar supported on said extension, a rigid member having an upper horizontal portion disposed within an opening in said spring seat and having an upper surface coplanar with the upper surface of said spring seat, and a portion depending from said upper portion and eX- tending through aligned openings in said extension and said tie bar, and resilient means disposed between said horizontal portion and said tie bar.

19. In a railway car truck, a combination of a side frame having a spring seat, said side frame having a laterally projecting extension beneath said seat, a tie bar supported on said extension, a rigid member having an upper horizontal portion disposed within an opening in said spring seat and having an upper surface coplanar With the upper surface of said spring seat, a portion depending from said upper portion through aligned openings in said extension and said tie bar, and resilient means sleeved over said depending portion and bearing against said tie bar and said upper portion.

20. In a railway car truck, a combination of a side frame having a spring seat, said side frame having a laterally projecting extension beneath said seat, a tie bar supported on said extension, a rigid member having an upper horizontal portion disposed within an opening in said spring seat and having an upper surface coplanar with the upper surface of said spring seat, a portion depending from said upper portion through aligned openingsl in said extension and said tie bar, and a coil spring sleeved over said depending portion and bearing against said tie bar and said upper portion.

21. In a railway car truck, the combination of a side frame comprising a spring seat, a horizontal ledge member connected to said frame beneath said seat and defining a jaw therewith, a tie bar supported on said ledge member, and means for maintaining said tie bar in engagement with said ledge member, said means including a spring cap member having a horizontal upper portion disposed within an opening in said seat and provided with an upper spring seat surface substantially coplanar with that of said seat, said cap member comprising a lower portion extending into said jaw, a resilient element bearing against said bar and said upper portion, said lower portion affording positioning means for said resilient element, and rigid means on one of said members projecting through a complementary opening in said bar.

ROBERT B. COTTRELL.

REFERENCES CITED' The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Dlate 1,763,221 Clasen June 10, 1930 2,130,141 Light Sept. 13, 1938 2,201,441 Light May 21, 1940 

